Friends of Crown Beach in Alameda, Part I

Friends of Crown Beach in Alameda, Part I

Friends of Crown Beach in Alameda was formed to prevent the City of Alameda from continuing with the proposed development of 95 residential units next to Crab Cove in Alameda.  Since the City of Alameda has not responded to the Friends pleas to preserve the “Neptune Point” site from development they feel they have no choice but to try to qualify a ballot measure for the November ballot to rezoning the property to open space.

The land was originally owned by the federal government which in 2006 determined that was no longer a need for the 3.89 acre parcel.  In 2008 City of Alameda voters passed measure WW approving funds for the acquisition of the site.  The site was thought to be perfect for expanding the park, adding additional picnic areas and parking making it easier to access the beach, picnic areas and Crab Cove Visitor’s Center.

However, when the City of Alameda rezoned the Neptune Point site from administrative/office to multi-family residential with up to 95 residential units the Park District . The Park District has since filed a lawsuit against the City of Alameda alleging that the rezoning was done in violation of environmental protection laws and in violation of Measure A of the Alameda City Charter. The Park District is asking the Alameda County Superior Court to rescind the residential zoning.

The General Services Administration, which sold the site to a private developer for $3,000,000, nearly triple the price for which the Park District had appraised the site.  Because access is held by the Park District the GSA has threatened to take the access over via eminent domain.  

To make matter more interesting, State Attorney General Kamala Harris' office recently sent a strongly worded letter to the U.S. Department of Justice about GSA's threat to use eminent domain to seize the street and sidewalks of McKay Avenue.

City of Alameda City Manager John Russo called the parks-district lawsuit "a bazooka on a fly and a big waste of taxpayer dollars. He explained that the zoning change was made because the property was being acquired by a developer - and the growth-resistant suburb has long been under pressure from the state to do more to meet housing demand for diverse income levels”.

Besides, Russo added, the developer's initial application with the city is not going anywhere until the McKay Avenue dispute is resolved.  "If you don't have access, you don't have a project," he said, adding, "They all need to get together to work something out."

Stay tuned for Part II of the Neptune Point site saga.